Sign the petition to save Stirchley Library!

February 26, 2024

Stirchley Library, along with other community libraries in Birmingham, is at risk of closure. Please sign the petition here to save Stirchley Library and other community libraries.

Birmingham City Council have now published their proposed plan to close 25 out of 35 existing community libraries and develop the remaining libraries into ‘community living rooms’. It is not yet clear which libraries would be closed nor the precise process by which the decision would be made.

The proposal would have a devastating impact on communities throughout Birmingham. Local libraries are safe and welcoming spaces for all – they provide such a …

Continue Reading →

A First World War Childhood in Stirchley

In 1989 a local history project was conducted in Stirchley where people provided oral histories and donated photographs which are still deposited in the library. Not all of it is organised or marked with where it came from. The image above includes a note that is was taken by the Savoy Picture House near Breedon (Breedon Cross) in 1916. The Savoy cinema was at 1649-1651 Pershore Road and was, initially, a silent movie theatre which opened in about 1923 – so after this picture was taken. The note also says that this was the Kings Royal Rifle Cadet Corps, and …

Continue Reading →

Thanks for showing your love for Stirchley Library!

February 20, 2024

It was lovely to see so many members of the community come along to our recent Love Your Library Day at Stirchley Library! It was a very busy and fun day attended by 150 people, with a range of free activities available to everyone. There were opportunities for people to learn more about local history and share their memories of Stirchley Library, and crafts galore! Visit our Facebook page to see some photos of some of the great art that was made on the day, including our ‘Love your Library’ bunting and bookmarks!

Continue Reading →

Local Industries: Baldwin’s Paper Mill in Lifford

February 19, 2024

The first in a series of posts which will follow the route of the Roman road (written about here) which likely cut through the area between Lifford and Stirchley Library. Lifford was likely the spot where the Roman road crossed the River Rea.

James Baldwin & Sons were “paper makers, letterpress and lithographic printers” at Sherbourne Mill on Morville Street in Birmingham. They also had paper mills in Kings Norton on Lifford Lane, which was near to where James Baldwin (1801-1871) made his home at Breedon House on (what is now) the Pershore Road.[1] This house was demolished and …

Continue Reading →

Photo Gallery of the River Rea (Part One)

February 11, 2024
Captioned on the reverse “Fordhouse Lane 28 Feb 1929”.

Several photographs of the River Rea were deposited at Stirchley Library several years ago. Many are mounted and possibly came from an exhibition put on by the “Engineers Dept.” of Birmingham City Council. Many have no description of which part of the River Rea that they depict, or the year that they were taken, so if anyone has any information, please contact Friends of Stirchley Library.

Captioned on the reverse “Bridge Repaired by New Bridge – Rea at Second Avenue” and stamped “ENGINEERS DEPT”. Undated.
Captioned on the reverse “R Rea
…

Continue Reading →